By Dot Bergin
The Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library are probably best known for their very popular twice-yearly book sales, but these are just the “tip of the iceberg” for all the programs the Friends provide in support of the Library.
At their well-attended annual meeting on November 18, Beverly Matthews presiding, treasurer Jerry Wolf reported that the 2012 spring and fall books sales were record-breakers. Proceeds from the two major books sales, plus year-round sales from the book carts located in the Library and sales of special books via the Internet, totaled close to $36,000. Book donations from patrons are key to the success of the sales; Beverly Matthews, Friends of the Library president, remarked on the generosity of Library users in continuing to donate books all through the year. Interestingly, the growing popularity of e-books doesn’t appear to have an effect on the sale of print copies. Bedford patrons still love to browse the sales tables and find good books at bargain prices.
With proceeds from sale of donated books and from membership dues, the Friends are able to offer Bedford an amazing array of programs that appeal to a wide range of interests, such as the enormously popular passes to 15 museums in the area. The total expenditure for this service was $5,692 and there were 1,693 uses of the museum passes. The annual winter lecture series with Professor Dan Breen, a perennial favorite, was supported by the Friends in the amount of $1,200. The 2013 series will begin in late January (dates to be announced), with Professor Breen focusing on key U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Did you know that the Friends support a monthly Cookbook Book Club, where those taking part not only read and discuss a book, but also actually prepare recipes, sometimes under the guidance of a professional chef? The Friends contributed some $1,100 to make this offering possible.
An ever-popular spring event sponsored by the Friends is “One Book, One Bedford,” instituted some years ago by former head librarian Meredith McCullough. Last year the Friends contributed more than $4,000 to the Library for the purchase of multiple copies of the one book, “You Know When the Men are Gone,” and to bring in the author, Siobhan Fallon, to talk about her book. Note: The title of the 2013 book has not yet been announced, but is eagerly anticipated!
In other programs, the Friends contributed close to $1,400 for the weekly movie program, almost $3,000 for the Children’s Room, and $1,275 for the Teen Center.
In addition to programs, the Friends contribute “hard assets” to the Library in the form of equipment, such as the scanner at the Reference desk, and furnishings, including two sofas for the Flag Mezzanine ($1,351), DVDs for circulation ($2,000), and other media which would be difficult for the Library to fund out of its regular budget.
Library Director Richard Callaghan began his report by expressing thanks from the Trustees and the staff for all the hard work of the Friends. The past year saw a new high of 367,656 in circulation, Callaghan reported, and there is a new metric, introduced in July, called Patron Counter, an electronic device that records the number of patrons coming into the Library. In October, that count stood at 34,000.
Of key importance are recent staff changes. Assistant Library Director Vanessa Abraham, whose last day on the job is November 19, is leaving to take a position as Library Director in Groton. In January 2013, Sharon McDonald, long-time (40 years) Children’s Librarian, is retiring. Callaghan reported he has already posted the Assistant Director position and applications are coming in. He hopes to fill the position by mid-to-end of January. The Children’s Librarian opening will be posted soon; Callaghan expects to fill this position by the end of January or early February. In the meantime, staff are pulling together to cover the work done by the two departing staff members.
Other highlights of the year, reported by Callaghan include:
- The Kids’ Summer Reading program was over-subscribed; on occasion, some children had to be turned away because the room could not safely hold any more people. 900 books were given away in the “Book Bingo” program.
- The self-checkout station went into operation on October 15; patrons like it and have required very little staff assistance in using the system, thus freeing staff for other duties.
- The Library is purchasing more e-books but this is not affecting the purchase of print books—as Callaghan says “it’s just another way of getting information out.” At the holiday season last year, staff noted an uptick in requests for help in using e-books and anticipates the same this year, as e-books become more popular.
- Periodical Room re-arrangement. Shelves have been relocated to the center of the room, with tables and chairs now positioned near the beautiful windows, which for years were essentially “covered up” by the shelving.
- Beautification of the Library grounds. Wooden benches have been installed along the side entrance (a gift of the Friends and very popular with patrons) and granite benches are now installed on the front porch.
- The Department of Public Works has recently installed sprinklers on the front lawn, where it has been difficult to maintain healthy grass.
In her report, President Matthews showed photos of the Eagle Scout project completed by Bedford scout Ben Knicely. To make the book sale area near the Reference desk more attractive, Ben built shelving and boxes to hold children’s’ books..
Matthews, who is now in the second year of her two-year term, as are Secretary Christiane Cupurdija, and Treasurer Jerry Wolf, read the slate of nominees for the Board of Directors, which was approved by voice vote. Members-at-Large are: Sheila Albrecht, Veronica Brown, Linda Connelly, Lisa Felice, Sabine Gossart, Greg Matthews, Joanna Nickerson, Renee O’Donnell, Janet Schimelfenyg,Elaine Shwimer and Janice Weichman.
President Matthews extended special thanks to retiring Board members Kaye Spofford, Jim Purvis, Cheryl Stebe and Kathy Jarvis.
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